From the Guidelines
To treat laryngeal soreness from singing, rest your voice for 24-48 hours, stay hydrated by drinking water daily, and use a humidifier to keep the air moist, as recommended by the most recent clinical practice guideline on hoarseness (dysphonia) 1. The goal of treatment is to reduce inflammation, provide moisture to irritated tissues, and allow the microtrauma to vocal cords to heal. Some key measures to take include:
- Resting your voice briefly to prevent voice fatigue, straining, and overuse 1
- Adequately hydrating by drinking water daily to maintain the mucous membranes that protect your vocal cords 1
- Using a humidifier in your room to keep the air moist, especially when sleeping
- Avoiding irritants like smoking, alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods, as well as behaviors that can strain your voice, such as yelling, shouting, and whispering 1 It is also important to note that if soreness persists beyond a week, worsens significantly, or is accompanied by complete voice loss, fever, or difficulty breathing, you should consult a healthcare provider as you may need prescription medications or have developed a more serious condition. Additionally, preventive measures such as adequate hydration, avoidance of irritants, voice training, and amplification may reduce the risk of developing dysphonia, as suggested by observational studies and small randomized trials of poor quality 1. However, the most recent and highest quality study on the topic, published in 2018, provides the most reliable guidance on how to treat laryngeal soreness from singing 1.
From the Research
Treatment Options for Laryngeal Soreness from Singing
- Medications can have various effects on laryngeal hydration, vocal fold mucosal integrity, laryngeal muscle function, and laryngeal sensation, which can be subtle and slowly progressive over time 2.
- Combination of voice therapy and antireflux therapy can rapidly recover voice-related symptoms in laryngopharyngeal reflux patients, suggesting that voice therapy may help to restore reversible mucosal change secondary to acidic reflux 3.
- Omeprazole can improve voice quality in muscle tension dysphonia patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux, with significant improvements in Voice Handicap Index and shimmer 4.
- Laryngopharyngeal reflux treatment should be part of the treatment plan for patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux condition, as it can help to improve voice quality 4.
- Eight weeks of omeprazole 20 mg can significantly reduce both laryngopharyngeal reflux and comorbid chronic rhinosinusitis signs and symptoms, suggesting that proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment can be effective in reducing signs and symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux 5.
Potential Causes of Laryngeal Soreness
- Vocal fold lesions can be a potential cause of difficulties or limitations producing high-pitched sounds while singing, and should be investigated in this population 6.
- Laryngopharyngeal reflux can cause vocal fold lesions and other laryngeal changes, which can lead to laryngeal soreness and voice-related symptoms 3, 6.
- Chronic rhinosinusitis can be comorbid with laryngopharyngeal reflux, and treatment of laryngopharyngeal reflux can also help to reduce signs and symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis 5.